[nobe-l] A question about job searching process

[Kathy McGillivray]

Depends on what you know about the hiring process and what they are looking 
for. Sometimes, people in the blindness field can be the most 
discriminating toward blind people. That's not always the case, but it is 
sometimes. My main point is that you want to sell yourself on your skills 
and experience, not the fact that you have a disability. It's nothing to be 
ashamed of, but it's not the selling point. Just my two cents.

Kathy McGillivray
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jewel" <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
To: "National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List" 
<nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 8:32 AM
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] A question about job searching process


> What if applying to be a TVI? Would you mention it then, since being blind 
> yourself could be a plus?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Dec 27, 2011, at 11:32 PM, "Kathy McGillivray" <kjm at usfamily.net> 
> wrote:
>
>> Hello. I see no reason to mention your disability in your cover letter or 
>> resume. Hiring managers and HR folks are going to wonder why you are 
>> mentioning it. Just submit your cover and resume as anyone else would, 
>> making sure it looks good. Then, if you get an interview and feel you 
>> don't want to catch folks by surprise, you can call a day or two ahead of 
>> time and ask for confirmation of some directions or some other point of 
>> information related to the interview. While doing so, you might mention 
>> that "I just wanted you to know that I am blind, so you are not caught 
>> off guard." Some folks feel most comfortable disclosing in this way ahead 
>> of time. This is what I have chosen to do. So you know, I just started a 
>> new job this past summer and was offered a position a year earlier which 
>> I decided to turn down. I have had a number of interviews in the past 
>> couple of years and this disclosure method seems to have worked for me. 
>> Other peple see no reason to disclose ahead of time. You will need to do 
>> what feels most comfortable for you. I strongly advise against mentioning 
>> your disability in a cover or resume. This would be a red flag to me as a 
>> hiring manager and I would wonder why you are bringing it up. I think 
>> mentioning your disability in a cover or resume is a fairly good way to 
>> not get an interview. Others may disagree with me, but this is my view.
>>
>>
>> Kathy McGillivray
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Irina Anisimova" 
>> <ilanisimova at gmail.com>
>> To: <nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2011 9:44 PM
>> Subject: [nobe-l] A question about job searching process
>>
>>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> I have a question about job search primarily to those working in
>> academia.  I plan to go on the job market next academic year, and want
>> to ask other people who have applied for academic positions whether
>> they have mentioned their disability on their cover letters or whether
>> recommenders have mentioned it.  If you did mention it what do you
>> think is a “graceful” way to do it?  I also wanted to ask if you have
>> some kind of assistants and what would be a good time to mention this
>> in the job searching process.  All advice would be greatly
>> appreciated!
>>
>> Happy New Year to all!
>>
>> Irina
>>
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